Identical twins Reuben and Max Wakefield have battled through the debate about which one of them is the better cricketer and are both achieving success in the sport.By Marc McGowan
FOR the duration of their young lives, identical Berwick twins Reuben and Max Wakefield have had to listen to people debate which one of them is the better cricketer.
That argument reached a new high this month when wicketkeeper Max made his debut for Casey-South Melbourne’s senior side against Richmond.
All-rounder Reuben, who is also in the Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union Club’s junior squad, is already a fixture in the team, but it was Max who shone early in their careers with berths in both the under 13 and under 15 Victorian teams.
However, Max’s surge in the sport came to an abrupt halt in 2005 when, in a seemingly meaningless social basketball game, the 17-year-old badly damaged the cartilage in his right ankle.
Originally the diagnosis was for a fairly quick recovery, but when Max started running again he knew something was not right.
He was then booked in for a complete ankle reconstruction in June last year and had a minor arthroscope on the joint this year.
“It changed everything for me,” he said.
“It was a whole lot worse than they first thought, and basically I didn’t play cricket for two years.
“At the time, I was trying out for the under 17 Victorian squad and it was down to the last one and there were not many other ’keepers there.
“It was tough to give it up like that and watch another kid take my position.”
While Max is delighted to be back in action, he still experiences some soreness in the ankle after games.
He, too, was a promising rugby union player, but has put those dreams on ice because he still does not have full confidence in his ankle.
“It has been hard enough getting back playing cricket,” Max said.
“Next year I’ll see how the ankle is, but right now I’m just hoping to get through the cricket season.”
The year 11 students, who began the sport with Warragul Cricket Club, have been Haileybury College scholarship-holders for three years and were ecstatic to receive the opportunity to play together at Victorian Premier Cricket’s elite level.
“It was good, actually,” Reuben, who is a member of the Victorian Cricket Academy, said.
“Apart from getting smashed (by Richmond), it was definitely a bit of a buzz to play with my brother.”
Despite just missing out on the Victorian under 19 side this week, Reuben was happy that selectors were paying attention to his progress.
“I’ve been a country cricketer all of my life and it’s tough to get recognition out in the sticks,” he said.
“It feels good to have them look at you, and I don’t want to sound like a dreamer, but ultimately I’d like to play state cricket and even above that.”
As for the rivalry between the two of them, Max believes it no longer applies.
“I’m a wicketkeeper and he’s more of a bowler and batsman, so that’s died down a bit,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for wicketkeeping, I wouldn’t play cricket. You are just always in the game.
“In the field so much comes to you and you have to be on your game.”
